InterPro: IPR003436 Chordopoxvirus fusion protein

This is a family of viral fusion proteins from the Chordopoxvirinae. A 14kDa Vaccinia virus protein has been demonstrated to function as a viral fusion protein mediating cell fusion at endosmomal (low) pH [1]. The protein, found in the envelope fraction of the virions, is required for fusing the outermost of the two golgi-derived membranes enveloping the virus with the plasma membrane, and its subsequent release extracellularly. The N-terminal proximal region is essential for its fusion ability.